Celebrating a 50th Birthday

One of my friends celebrated her 49th birthday in August in Italy a few years ago and afterward reported it was “too hot and crowded”. Her husband vowed never to return to Italy. They went to Rome Florence and Venice. If you really want to go, perhaps visit the Dolomite mountain area in northern Italy?.

You can easily do everything on your list. Here are a few olive mills in Tuscany that give tours and pressing demonstrations. I think the best time for this is late September-October.

https://www.emiliadelizia.com/discover-tour-oil-mills-tuscany-florence-chianti-livorno/

You'll find pasta making classes in just about any
Area of Italy. As each region has its on speciality.

Villas are everywhere, do you wish to do a city villa or out in the countryside.

thanks so much for the information. lots to think about.

I would also consider waiting a couple months if you have your heart set on Italy but it might be too hot. We are celebrating our 30th anniversary in Spain next month (it was actually this past May), because we prefer to go there in Oct. If Italy is where you want to go but August isn't the best time, think about going a little later to celebrate!

The closest month to August that I would consider is October and the later, the better to avoid the heat. My first trip to Italy was in mid-October. I was grateful for the fan in my Venice room, in Florence I wouldn't have been able to sleep without the AC.

Or you could celebrate early - go in late April or May, and then invite your friends to celebrate your birthday back home and show off your newly acquired cooking skills, maybe even with a few ingredients brought home.

If you don’t like extreme heat, avoid Italy from mid June to mid September. Sometimes it’s hot also in early June or late September, but less likely so.
If you go in summer I would consider ONLY the Alpine regions (as high as possible in altitude) or beach locations where the sea breeze (and swimming in the sea) makes the heat more bearable.

I have dreamed of celebrating my 50th birthday in Italy by eating where the locals eat, making olive oil, making pasta, and staying a villa.

You can fulfil your dream, but as someone who has been in Rome in August and Tuscany in December, I heartily recommend you go during the off season.

We ate where the locals ate and were the only ones there not from the community. One restaurant owner joined us, at our invitation and we watched football (soccer) together while he gave us lessons in basic Italian, including how to scream at the TV!

Tuscany would be wonderful. You'll have to check your options if you plan on public transportation, especially if you want to stay at a villa. Driving is easy, so consider a rental car if you are comfortable driving. That will really expand your options to explore the countryside and the charming hill towns nearby.

When we were there in December, a few mornings were ~35F, but would heat up into the upper 50s or low 60s in the afternoon. In the 10 days we were there, it drizzled only once and that was the day we visited the Uffizzi. It is true the sun sets earlier, but twilight in Tuscany is a magical time.

I agree with DougMac. After my first visit in October, 4 of my 5 subsequent trips ahve been in February. Low season prices, few tourists, mild weather, lots of days included sitting in the sunshine and enjoying a cold drink or gelato.